Paleta Planeta would not exist without the parents of Mauricio, Luis and Gabriel Salazar, who allowed their three sons to turn the family’s San Jose home into their first Mexican popsicle factory. “It is very Silicon Valley to start a company out of a garage,” Luis told San José Spotlight. “We just constantly made batches...
Downtown
Downtown
San Jose police program in the spotlight after officer death
Police officers across Silicon Valley are mourning San Jose’s first community service officer killed in the line of duty — a gesture to how integral these officers have become in a city that struggles to fill its police ranks. Long Pham, a community service officer with the San Jose Police Department since 2022, was killed...
UPDATE: San Jose approves tax breaks to fill empty office space
San Jose city leaders want to entice new businesses into filling empty office space in Downtown San Jose with perks that can save them money. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a policy for any new business looking for a minimum of 2,500 square feet to be exempt from paying city business taxes...
San Jose landmark status saves church from demolition
An 83-year-old church in downtown San Jose has been granted historic landmark status after years of fighting invasive development proposals that could have demolished the house of worship. Grace Baptist Church at 484 E. San Fernando St. has been designated a historic landmark for its architectural and cultural value. The San Jose City Council’s decision...
Historic San Jose building in need of major repairs
The San Jose Chamber of Commerce building is in need of some urgent upgrades, and the organization has launched a foundation to raise the funds. Built in 1942, the historic building that fronts the corner of West Santa Clara and Market streets is in need of a new cooling and heating system, water pipes and...
The Biz Beat: San Jose restaurant sells burgers for $1.99
There’s a new burger joint in downtown San Jose, with prices cheap enough to keep even the most hungry university student fed. Campus Burgers is one block from San Jose State University and will undoubtedly be a magnet for students look for a fast, affordable lunch or dinner. And the demand is there: the restaurant...
Legal woes won’t stop downtown San Jose park revamp
San Jose is on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars after being sued over a planned concert venue at its historic but blighted St. James Park. Yet the plans are undeterred – and poised to start this year. The San Jose City Council on Aug. 27 is slated to approve a $400,000 settlement to...
Former San Jose hotel houses 700 college students
Hundreds of college students will soon be able to call downtown San Jose home, thanks to the quick renovations of a historic hotel. Spartan Village on the Paseo, formerly the south tower of the Signia by Hilton hotel, will house roughly 700 San Jose State University students beginning this fall semester. About 120 beds will...
The Biz Beat: Tiki Pete is a tropical getaway in San Jose
Pete Be looks exactly like you’d hope Tiki Pete would look: distinctively Hawaiian, a shaved head, covered in ornate tattoos and wearing a shirt with bright, abstract designs. The downtown San Jose bar owner’s cheerful and self-confident demeanor might come from starting his first business, selling artwork, at an early age. “I was a 14-year-old...
Summer movie screenings return to downtown San Jose
Summer in San Jose has brought back the classics: a scorching heat wave, crowded conventions and an almost decade-long tradition of outdoor movies. In partnership with the city’s Viva Parks program, the San Jose Downtown Association is hosting Starlight Cinema — a seasonal summer event that provides free movie showings on Saturday evenings in St....